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[packyb]

I am not getting anywhere with Western Digital forums/customer support, and since I have always gotten great advice from the folks in this forum, I thought that I would take my problem to you all - even though it isn't MC10-specific (it does have to do with my music, though).

This looks like an algebra word problem, but can be boiled down to the fact that one of my internal hard drives transfers at 1/10 the rate of the other:

I have two WD2000JB internal 200GB Caviar Special Edition Internal EIDE Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drives with 8MB Cache drive - C:/ and F:/. My computer is a Dell 8300, running Windows XP, with a 3GHz P4 processor.

I am having a problem with the performace speed in transferring data from the second drive (F:/) to an external drive (M:/). The first drive (C:/) transfers at a rate greater than 1000 MB/min, but the second drive (F:/) transfers at ~ 120MB/min. How can I optimize the transfer speed of the F:/? (Both drives are set to "Optimize for Performance in their respective Policies sections.)

The F:/ drive is on the same data cable as the C:/ drive. I used "Cable Select" to set up the drives (per the WDC customer service rep), and so that cable is connected to the motherboard. The data cable that is being used is the data cable that came with my Dell, and I haven’t tried a different data cable. The BIOS is the latest – as are the drivers. Also, both drives are set to "Optimize for Performance” in their respective Policies sections.

Not sure if this is relevant, but I just checked Device Manager>properties>advanced tab of IDE primary channel, and the current transfer modes say "Device 0: Ultra DMA Mode 5" and "Device 1: PIO Mode" - but both have option "DMA if available" selected. I checked secondary IDE channel, and the current transfer mode is "Ultra DMA Mode 2" for both Device 0 and Device 1.

[skeeterfood]

Not sure if this is relevant, but I just checked Device Manager>properties>advanced tab of IDE primary channel, and the current transfer modes say "Device 0: Ultra DMA Mode 5" and "Device 1: PIO Mode" - but both have option "DMA if available" selected.

This is most definitely your problem.  PIO mode is severely limiting the speed of the drive.  It sounds like you have everything set up correctly though...  The only suggestion I can make is to open up the computer and set the jumper on your C: drive to master and the other one to Slave and see if that makes the second drive go to DMA mode.

-John

Edit: I just remembered seeing something about Win2000 and XP having a "bug" that if the drive returns too many read errors, it steps back to PIO mode and will never switch back to DMA mode on its own.  I think I saw something about it in this forum a few weeks/months back...

[JimH]

Edit: I just remembered seeing something about Win2000 and XP having a "bug" that if the drive returns too many read errors, it steps back to PIO mode and will never switch back to DMA mode on its own.  I think I saw something about it in this forum a few weeks/months back...

That's correct.  A search for PIO should find it.

[packyb]

well, i was excited for a second, but i can't seem to get the computer to change back to the DMA mode. i did a forum search on DMA and PIO, and followed the instructions: uninstalled drive, re-booted, but it still has PIO selected. ideas?

[JimH]

It's a well known problem, so try searching further back (more days) in our search or at google.

[Griff]

OK

I have two WD2000JB internal 200GB Caviar Special Edition Internal EIDE Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drives with 8MB Cache drive - C:/ and F:/. My computer is a Dell 8300, running Windows XP, with a 3GHz P4 processor

Did you install these drives or did they come with the dell/ or did you install an extra one.?

Also what the chipset ont the MB.

[packyb]

The chipset is Intel(R) 875 chipset family. Memory Controller: 82875P. I/O Controller: 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R), SATA and PATA enabled.

The first drive (C:/) came installed with the Dell. The second drive (F:/), I installed.

[Griff]

And the sec. one (disk drive) is identical two the first one (Dells)?

[Robert Taylor]

Gday,

I would definately jumper the drives as MASTER and SLAVE, I never use cable select as it has given me problems in the past.

Another thing, are the two disk drives on the same IDE interface?? Another thing I never do is to mix slow devices (CDROM, CDRW etc), on the same IDE interface as hard drives.

All my machines have two hard drives (master/slave) on the primary IDE interface, and CD/CDRW (master/slave) on the seocndary IDE.

Hope this helps...

[JorgeGVB]

I was having a similar performance problem with burning DVDs using DVD X Copy and discovered the PIO mode being locked in too.  A CS person at 321 Studio's (maker of X Copy) sent me a small program to unlock it the PIO mode.  It worked like a charm!  The program is only 5K, so I can e-mail it to you.  

Probably not safe to list your e-mail address here, so just send me a private message if you want me to send it to you (if you don't know how, click on my name to PM me.)  

[packyb]

And the sec. one (disk drive) is identical two the first one (Dells)?

Yes

are the two disk drives on the same IDE interface??

Yes

I would definately jumper the drives as MASTER and SLAVE

Tried this configuration, but the locked PIO problem continues

JorgeGVB - Thanks for the offer. I'm a little wary of installing a program whose source I can't confirm. I seriously appreciate the offer, but I hope you can understand my hesitation.

Also, have tried the advice of this and other forums - go to device manager>primary ide channel>properties>uninstall driver>re-boot - but to no avail. The PIO mode remains locked.

[phelt]

EDIT: I need to read threads more carefully before replying.

You're sure DMA/Ultra DMA has been enable for that drive in the BIOS?

And you're not using any drive overlay programs? HD manufacturers frequently provides these for folks with older BIOS to access new large drives, but they can be a hindrance if not needed.

You could try using an older version of the Intel Application Accelerator, which installs its own drive for IDE devices. I use this and have had no problems, and my read/write performance is slightly better than with native Windows drivers. But you would need to get an older version, as the new versions are for RAIDs only.

[packyb]

You're sure DMA/Ultra DMA has been enable for that drive in the BIOS?

Not sure how to determine that in the BIOS, but the "Enable DMA if available"  option is there in the properties of the primary ide channel.

And you're not using any drive overlay programs?

Not that I know of. As far as I know, the C:/ drive on my PC came installed with this exact drive that I am having trouble with (F:/), so there was really no need.

[packyb]

Think things are now working properly. I performed a re-boot, and on start up, hit F2, went into BIOS settings, and for some reason my secondary drive (F:/ drive) - which is now a slave drive - was "OFF" even though it was working properly. I changed the setting to "AUTO" and upon re-boot, it looks as if Ultra DMA Mode 5 is selected in the Device Manager. I'll post again when I try to transfer (re-formatting now) to confirm that this sticks.

THANKS FOR EVERYONE'S HELP/ADVICE

[packyb]

that definitely did the trick. just transferred music - and worked great. thanks again everyone.